Fishing tackle dropaway sinker



April 13, 1965 l.. BENolT FISHING TACKLE DROPAWAY SINKER Filed Sept. 29, 1961 F 7 n 0 INVENTOR.

3, ou/.s .BenQ/ TTORNE Y United States Patent 3,177,606 FISHING TACKLE DROPAWAY SINKER Louis Benoit, 320 Miller Bldg., Yakima, Wash. Filed Sept. 29, 1961, Ser. No. 141,652 9 Claims. (Cl. t3-43.12)

My invention relates to a fishing tackle-dropaway sinker.

More particularly, my invention relates to a sinker for a fish line which has an attachment of such design that a desired degree of pull on the line by a fish will automatically release the sinker and thereby provide for the playing of the hooked fish free of the load of the sinker. This releasing of the sinker from the line increases the contest in landing the fish because the fish does not then have to use its strength to drag around the heavy sinker. The strength of the fish is thus available to fight to get free and gives the fishermen an experience akin to that of dry fly fishing.

In catching some fish there is required several ounces of lead in order to take the fishing line and lure to low enough depths against the undercurrent in the sea to reach the fish. Especially is this true in trolling. When hooked, this heavy weight which may be 3 to 16 ounces or more, puts a heavy load onto the fish and causes it to tire more quickly than if the sinker were to be released after performing its function of taking the hook and lure to the depth required to reach the area occupied by the fish. Furthermore, having the lead removed prevents a possible heavy jerk on the line which may tear the hook free and release the fish due to the inertia of the heavy lead sinker which is necessarily within a few feet of the lure. By having a sinker released soon after hooking the fish this possibility of the fish getting loose is avoided in great measure. My invention thus provides the fish with more freedom in fighting to escape and also protects the fisherman against such escape due to the removal of the heavy dragload of a sinker.

However, it is important to have the equipment so operate as to minimize releasing the sinker unintentionally as when a line is employed in casting. Also there are occasions when it is desirable not to have the sinker releasable and this requires providing an optional applicaktion at the will of the fisherman of a locking means to the equipment which prevents the automatic release of the sinker.

At the same time, the releasing of the sinker imposes on the fisherman the requirement of having a delicate touch in letting the fish run with the line while at the ,same time of keeping the line taut.

`greatly favored fly-type of fishing. 'In doing this I em- ,ploy `the heavy part as the sinker of a character which may ,be eliminated while playing the fish, i.e., after the fish is hooked.

, `The various objects and purposes of my invention are to provide a fishline mechanism which meets and provides for all of the above requirements.

AThe above specified objects of my invention together with others inherent in the same are attained by the mechanism illustrated in the following drawings, the same being preferred exemplary forms of embodiment of my invention, throughout which drawings like reference numerals indicate and identify like parts:

FIGURE 1 shows the device embodying my invention in assembled form attached to the fishing line and in position for use in fishing;

FIG. 2 is a view in longitudinal section of the upper end of the said device;

ICC

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal View similar to FIG. 2 but showing the device in operation with the sinker released, i.e., in dropaway position with respect to the fishing line;

FIG. 4 is a view in side elevation of a modified form of my invention having a locking means therefor to prevent the release of the sinker;

FIG. 5 is a side view with the cylinder shown in section of the modified form with part of cylinder broken away showing the inside parts of the invention and with the locking pin in locked position;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal view similar to FIG. 5 of the modified form of my invention in side elevation showing the device in operation with the sinker released, i.e., in dropaway position with respect to the fishing line; kand FIG. 7 is a separate view in perspective of the locking pin and connected cover or mounting band means.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side view of the top edge of a modified form of the invention illustrating how it is adapted to employ a homemade sinker.

The specially designed fishing line sinker member 10 is provided with lure mounting engaging sinker rod or wire 11 fixedly mounted along its upper edge or attached along its upper edge and a short holding pin 12 fixedly disposed in said sinker or said wire. The rod has projecting ends 11a and 11b. This sinker 10 is secured to the fishing line 13 as follows: a swivel member 14 is mounted by a wire portion 15 disposed in an opening 16 in the end of the hollow cylinder 17. Ball 15a secured on the end of wire 15 makes a swivel mounting in opening 16. A spring 18 is enclosed in said cylinder 17 mounted on a rod 19 which extends through an opening 20 in the lure wire end of the cylinder 17 and has a swivel eye 21 which in turn preferably has fixedly mounted ring 22 disposed at right angles to the plane of the eye 21. The eye 21 is provided with a series of swivels 23 which are attached to the leader or lure end 24 of the fishing line.

The cylinder 17 also has a ring 25 cooperating with ring 22 in forming a mounting means for the ends 11a and 11b of the sinker rod 11. End 11a in operating assembly position, i.e. with spring not compressed, extends through ring 22 and end 11b extends through ring 25.

Rod 19 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is secured to the forward end, i.e., reel end, FIGS. 2 and 3, of spring 18. When the fish is caught and pulls on section 24 to which section the hook is connected, a desired pull of the fish will compress the spring 18 and thereby pull the ring 22 free of the sinker rod end portion 11a, as seen in FIG. 3 and this in turn will allow the end portion 11b to slide out of the ring 25 as the forward or leader or lure end of the sinker drops downwardly thereby completing the releasing of the sinker from the fishing line.

Sometimes it may be desired to interrupt employing the fishing line in a trolling operation and use it temporarily for casting before returning to trolling. Under such circumstances, it is important to prevent the sinker from becoming unintentionally freed from the fishing line when the line is cast. The short holding pin 12 extending when in holding position through the opening 26 in the cylinder 17 will not allow the sinker rod 11to move forwardly or rearwardly in response to the inertia of the sinker due to the casting force, and therefore the end 11a or the end 11b will not become free of the forward ring 22 or rearward ring 25 respectively.

In the modied form shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 a spring locking means comprising a pin 30 and a covering member or holding band 31 are combined in the manner shown in FIG. 7. The end 32 of the leader line is connected to the front (lure) end of the spring 34 (replacing spring 18 of form in FIGS. l, 2 and 3). That is, this modified form shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 has a pin ,band or holding mounting member 31;

30 engageable with spring 34 through opening V44a'in cylinder 17a.

I nd from actual experimenting that itis advantageous to Vhave theV forward (lure) end of the sinker mem-V ber released-rst'becau'se there appearsjto beless danger of entanglementand the sinker member frees itselfrnjore readily. Y f Y s y VThis connection with the spring provides forutilizing Y den jerk of a predetermined magnitude willpull the rst dependentring free of the lure end of the said sinker rod allowing that end fof the-sinker to drop downwardly and free of the lfirst dependent ring and allowing Ythe sinker the full resiliency'ofrthe spring.: In thQCaSe ofqspring 18, the connection with the'reel endv of the spring 18 permits each loop of the spring spirals toi gradually approach and contact the loop'next ahead. FIGS. 4, 5, 6Yand 7 -this does not take place andV the full yresiliency of the spring 34s available. This'spring 34Y operates more smoothly and eiciently than a spring' 18 type. In PIG. 7 the pin 30 is shown kseparately with its In thismodied form ofthe device thereqisalsro shown a spring locking mechanism .comprising thek pin V30v and a cover or band member 31 therefor. By inserting this pin 30 through hole 44a in cylinder'17ci shown Ain FIG. 5,

the ".spring mechanism is rendered completely inoperative. Cylinder 17a has two holes, `one for locked position 44a andV one 44 for unlocked'position as illustrated by pin 30 in position in'FIG. 6. Thevcover memberjlal'V for the pin 30 holdsithe pin 30 in place and the lateral` In theV form` shown to slide free'of the second dependent ring Ythereby freeing the line of saidsinlrer permitting it to drop away.

2.' A sh'line releasing and drop-away'sinker, mechanism comprising, a fishline having a reel and lure end portions, the lure end portion carrying a first ring; a cylinder with an iopening at its lure and reel ends; asinker havingV a sinker rod xerdly secured along its top edge with sinker rod extensions rectilinearly projecting beyond the ends of said sinker; a coil vspringvdisposed in vsaid cylinder; line connecting means extending through said openings yin said'cylinder securing said lspring intermediate said iish line lure -andfl Portions; and a second ring Y, carried'by, the reel end of said cylinder, said ring, to-

gether with said first ring,"being adapted to normally rel ceivethe sinkerrod extensionswhereby a sudden jerkA of a predeterminedmagnitude on the'lure end of the line Willpull said rst 'dependent ringof thelure end free of the said sinker extension 'allowing that end to` dropdown- `wardlyand free 'of kthe iirst dependent. ring, and then almembers of the cover resiliently griplthe sides of the cylinderlhz in securing the cover 31 thereto.Y The sinker is identical or substantially similar tol the rsinker member 10. In the form of FIGS; 4, 5 andvpinlissimilar to lowing the other sinker rod Vextension to vslidefree of the second dependent ring thereby'entirely Yfreeing the lineof saidsi'nker; y y .l s

3. A'fishY line Vsinker releasing and drop-away mechanism comprising a fish line having a reel and Vlure end pin 12 of FIGS. l, 2 and 3 inlconstruction'andv function.

The mounting rod or wire v39 for thegsinlieris secured along the upper edge of the sinker by leading on-when portions; a cylinder` with anvopenirng at its lure and reel endsA portions; a connectorwirevextending through said l reel Vend opening and secured toanend of said fish line; Vva sinker having .a sinker rod xedly secured along its top edge withV sinker 'rodV extensions rectilinearly projecting the top edge portion of'thefsinker 36 isin Ymelted form` as when being cast and with extensions of the ends 39a (lure end) and 39b y(reel end) .Y v. Thewire'r'od 40y isgattached tothe front end of the. spring34 V(the lure` end) f- 32 of the shing line. The reel end-of theishingline 411` *Y s hich is Y-mounted vin* the Yend Y43 of the-cylinder 17a, as shownin FIGQG.

is connected to the ring Y42A When .itisV desired not to. lock thel spring the `pin 30V l* may be positioned throughran Yopening 44 in the .cylin- Y der. This permitsthebalance of the spring 34 Yto be l pulled forwardlyanditsfull-presiliency employed; Also the locking 'pin-30, andl cover 31 thus Vare conveniently secured'agai'nst loss and .are'ready for'u'SevWlVien-desired:enV At times it maybe desirableA touseV scrap metalzforaV sinker rather` than a preformedlead member and 'togthis endIform as a separateV member the; wire45 toextend along the top of a lmakeshift sinker member 46 said lwirei y being of a length to lprovide. extensionsf47 and 48 and also beyond the ends ofjsaidnsinker;Y a coiled spring disposed -in said cylinder and bearing against oneend portion of said cylinder; and-having a corinectc'irwireY extending through said 'spring'and secured Cto -the reel end of said Y spring,l said connector Wire extending through thelure end of said cylinder; aswivel means secured to the Vlure end of said connector wire beyond ,the end of said cylinder; a xedfvdependent ringsecured to the said swivel means disposed transversely of the lineadapted to slid- Y f ably receive one oaf-,said sinkerfextensions; asecond deprovided with the holding pin 49* welded tothe wireY as spending of` the sinker parts of the devices shown .in the previous figures'. Y

' I claim:

. showninl-TIG. 8. These parts are'similarto theeorre-j 55V 1. A fishV line releasing and c'lrop-av'vayk sinker i`nieclia--` portio'msaid iish line having a sinker with a sinkerfrod ixedly secured-along its top edge" and characterized by having sinkerl rodf extensions `projecting beyond vthe ends -of said ysrinker which Aextensions functiongasvrslidable re'- nism comprising ailshlinezhavingV aareel'raiidY a lure end,` i so leasing means;.a cylinder with an opening at the lure 'and'` j reel ends thereof; lacoiled spring disposed-in saidrcyliiider;` the reelend-of the fishing line'being secured to said-cylin-i Y der; aline `connector wire operatively f connected Vtr fsaicl coiledY spring; a swivel lmeans secuiredjV to said Aline cori'- nector wire, the'lure endof the iishingline Y.being connected to Asaid connector wire; a first dependentring-fse- Vcured transversely of said swivelV meansfat'theelure,end-V 4of thevwire. and adapted torfslidably Yreceivefoiie'siiilger- Mrod extension; ,and a secod dependent ring sec'zuredfto Ysaid lcylinder, and. adapted toireceive'Vslidablyj'the sinker Yrod exten'sion at theVr reelend ofisaid sinker whereby va sudpendent ring secured to said cylinder and adaptedv to .slidably receive the'reelend'ot said sinkerextension; whererby asudden jerk of a predetermined magnitude.V onthe lure end of the linek will pull thevr said 'rst dependentr ring ofthelure end-free Vofthe said'sinker extension allowing that;V endwto dropY downwardlyand free loffthe rst dependent ringand then allowingrthe/reel end sinker, rod

j extension'.to-.slide'iree VAof the second dependent ring Ytherebyentirelyfreeiiigthe line of said rsinker.

Aiishline releasingand drop-away sinker mechanismcomprising, a Vfish, line having a reel and lure end .portions, the lure endfportion carryinga tirst, ring; a cylinderwith anopening.at.its.lure andreel ends; asinker having a sinker'rod xedly secured along its top edge with sinker rod extensions` reetilinearlyprojecting beyond the adapted `sto: normally. receive thesinkerlrod extensions v Vwherebyasudden jerk of; a predetermined magnitude on the; lure end of the linel will pull said first dependent ring Y of thejlure end ffrree of the ksaid.sirike'rex-tension `allowing .,th'atendv tofdropfdownwardlyaiid freevv ofl the iirst de-I pendent ring'and-then allowing the other sinker rod'extension to slide `free of. the lsecond dependent Vring thereby l* 'entirely Vfreeing 'the line yofrrasaid sinker. Y f

. 5. In a sh line sinker automatic releasing mechanism; a cylinder having lure and reel ends; a spring mounted in said cylinder; a sinker; a sinker rod mounted along the upper edge of said sinker, said rod having relatively short straight bare `extensions beyondveach end of said sinker; a ring xed adjacent the iure end of said cylinder and a ring fixed to the cylinder on the reel end thereof of said cylinder, said rings receiving the bare extensions of said rod of said sinker for releasing said sinker when a desired pull is exerted on said line; and a short holding pin vertically disposed on the said upper edge of said sinker when said extensions are engaged in said rings, said pin being engageable with said cylinder whereby said sinker is held by said cylinder until a desired pull is made o-n said line.

6. In a fish line sinker automatic releasing mechanism, a fish line having a reel and lure end portions; a spring disposed between the lure and reel end portions joining the two portions; a mounting cylinder for said spring; a ring carried by said lure end portion adjacent the spring; a ring carried by said cylinder in its reel end portion; a sinker element of an oblong and streamlined form having an upper edge portion and a rod mounting along said upper edge, said rod extending rectilinearly beyond the ends of said sinker, said rod extensions being engageable by said rings; said rod extensions being releasable from said rings by expanding said spring.

7. The combination of claim 3 further comprising a locking means for said coil spring comprising means in said cylinder providing a hole in order to releasably hold a pin selectively engageable with said spring in locking the saine against longitudinal expansion.

8. In a fish line sinker releasable and dropaway mechanism, a sinker element of oblong form having an upper edge portion and having a lure end attaching portion and a reel end attaching end portion; a sinker rod iixedly secured along said upper edge of said element and characterized by having sinker rod extensions rectilinearly projecting beyond the said ends of said sinker; and a short holding pin vertically rigidly disposed on said upper edge portion of said sinker.

9. In a releasing and dropaway mechanism for a fish line sinker, a sinker mounting means comprising, a fish line having a lure and reel end portions; a cylinder; a spring in said cylinder joining said lure and reel end po-rtions of said lline; a sinker of oblong form with an upper edge; a rod fixedly secured in said upper edge', the end portions of said rod projecting rectilinearly beyond the ends of said sinker, the lure end of said cylinder carrying a first ring and a second ring carried by the reel end thereof, said rings being adapted to normally receive the sinker rod extensions whereby a sudden jerk of predetermined magnitude on the lure end of the line Will pull said first ring free of the said sinker extensions allowing said ring to drop downwardly and free of the rst ring and then allowing the other sinker end extension to slide free of the second ring thereby entirely freeing the line of said sinker; a short holding pin disposed uprightly in the said .upper edge of said sinker, said cylinder having a hole in registry with said holding pin in order to releasably hold the same when said extensions are engaged by said rings; a locking pin for said spring receivable in a hole in said cylinder' for locking the spring against extension as when the mechanism is used for casting.

References Cited by the Examiner UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,217,972 10/40 Smith i3-44.88 2,562,054 7/51 Mathieu t3-43.12 2,858,637 11/58 Stark 43-43.l2 2,994,622 8/61 Miller i3-43.12 X

FOREIGN PATENTS 161,918 7/07 Great Britain.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH S. REICH, Examiner. 

8. IN A FISH LINE SINKER RELEASABLE AND DROPAWAY MECHANISM, A SINKER ELEMENT OF OBLONG FORM HAVING AN UPPER EDGE PORTION AND HAVING A LURE END ATTACHING PORTION AND A REEL END ATTACHING END PORTION; A SINKER ROD FIXEDLY SECURED ALONG SAID UPPER EDGE OF SAID ELEMENT AND CHARACTERIZED BY HAVING SINKER ROD EXTENSIONS RECTILINEARLY PROJECTING BEYOND THE SAID ENDS OF SAID SINKER; AND A SHORT HOLDING PIN VERTICALLY RIGIDLY DISPOSED ON SAID UPPER EDGE PORTION OF SAID SINKER. 